Bir Shamsher J.B.R

  Author: Sona Roka Magar

Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana was the 11 prime minister of Nepal and 3rd Rana Prime Minister. He was born on 10 December 1852. Bir was born to the chief of the Army Dhir Shamsher Jung Bahadur Rana, younger brother of Jung Bahadur Rana. He is remembered as a statesman. Bir Shumsher's  mother died as soon as he was born and he was taken care by Putali Maharani, wife of Jung Bahadur. He spent his childhood at Thapathali Durbar and was known as Kailay in his childhood by Jung Bahadur Rana.He was a great builder and a lover of music.

Major Achievement Of Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana 

 He served from 1885 to 1901 and was invested as Tung-ling-ping-ma-kuo-kang-wang in 1889. Bir Shumsher  made important reforms and infrastructure improvements. During his regin, he introduced the system of 'daudaha' to check corruption, leakage of revenue in districts and to remove flaws in the administrative system. He also divided Nepal into 35 districts which were followed till 2018 BS. Bir Shumsher also discouraged the custom of Sati. While in power, he brought piped water to the Kathmandu Valley, built a suspension bridge at Kulekhani, English was taught in schools and hospitals like Bir Hospital which is still working, were built. He reorganized land tax and created a better administrative body. He sent a large number of troops to the British. The British gave him the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India on Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. He was an earnest ruler.

He started a new line of succession to the Prime Ministership of Nepal, excluding all others except the legitimate sons of Dhir Shumsher. He established Durbar High School, Bir Hospital, Bir Tower (Ghanta Ghar), Pathshala (School) and a sanitary system. He provided a good supply of drinking water to the towns of Kathmandu in 1891 and Bhadgaon in 1895. He established the Bir Library for the collection and preservation of valuable books and manuscripts, the postal system was reformed and many roads of Kathmandu were broadened. He sent 5 students from Nepal to study Engineering in Japan, his son Gehendra Shamsher also known as first scientist of Nepal was also one  of the 5 students. He also sent 10 students to India in order to learn Sanskrit.

Award Received 

1) Prince Albert Victor

2)  Duke of Clarence

3) The ill-fated Archduke Franz Ferdinand

4) Order of the Star of India

Causes of Death 

 Bir Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana suffered from diseases and died in 5 march 1901, after ruling the country for over 15 years.

Adopted from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bir_Shumsher_Jang_Bahadur_Rana